Traction-engine.



H. SGHLIGET.

TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MIME. 1912.

l Y n LV1/mises HANS scHLI'cH'r, or WALNUT, IOWA. y'

miniemen-ENGINES Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

Applicatie meaeprii 15, 1912. seriaiivacsasss.

To all whom it mag/'concern' Y Be it` known that l., HAN-s SCHLIGHT, a.

citizen of the' United States, 'residing at llialnut, in the .county of' Pottawattamie,

and State of Iowa., have invented anew and useful Traction-Engine, of which the following is a specification.

rifhe object of my invention isto provide atraction engine so constructed that when once started in a certain direction,iit will 'continue to travelin that direction withl lit tle or no attention from the engineer.

It is especially` my object to provide such anengine which-'can be set'totravel in a circle and which when so set will continue to so travel. That is to say, itis umy purpose to provide an engine which may7 be used with a plow,for instance, and which when started in a circle, will automatically-follow the furrow with little or no attention from the operator.

A further ob'ject'is to provide an engine so constructed that it may be used with 'a plow for traveling'A in a circle with a minimum of strain on the parts.

A. further object is to provide ran engine soconstructed and arranged that when the front wheels are turned, the power from the Iengine proper'will be automatically thrown on the traction wheel which travels the outer circle, in making a turn, thereby imposinga minimum of strain on the parts and enabling me to make a turn with my engine with a minimum of power-.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter morefull'y setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the-accompanying drawings, in Wfliichl Figure 1 shows a top orplan view of the mechanism of my improved engine.v Fig. 2 shows adetail ,viewy of part of the rear axle. Fig. 3 shows a detail view partly in section of my improved mechanism for automatically imparting power to one or the other of the large traction wheels. Fig. 4 shows -a' detail sectional view of part of the gearing byywhich power from the engine is-"t'r'ans mitted to the traction wheels. Fig'. 5 is a detail view partly in section of the slidingv ear.

g In the accompanying drawing, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the frame of my improved engine.l

thereof, is a circular platform 11. Rotatably mounted on the fixed platform` 11 is a rotary platform v12, which, as shown in' the drawing is centrally mounted on the plat- Fixedv on the Irame near .thev front end form l1 by means ofthe bolt 13. Fixed to the front edge of the movable platform 12 is the front axle llof my engine. The axle 141 extends farther in one direction than the other from the platform 12 for a purpose `hereinafter explained. As shown in Fig. 1,

the axle 14 is longer on thel right hand of the machine. y.

My engine may be used for a large'number of purposes,-and for' illustrating one of them I have shown fixed on the right side of the frame of the engine, an ordinary plow 15.

It 1s my purpose to construct my enginel so that where 'a furrow is plowed, in--a.circle, the'engine may `be set to automatically follow the furrow with little or nov guidance from the operator. In such case the axle 14 is of proper length to permit the wheel 16 at one end thereof to travel in a furrow while the wheelv 17 travels ion the smooth ground.

When the Wheel 17 'travels over ordinary stubble or the like and the Wheel 16 travels in a furrow,fthe greater pull will be on the wheel 17,l since -it will travel over ground more orless rough,.while the wheel 16 trav f els in the smooth, hard bottom ofthe furrow.

'The tendency would therefore Vbe for the' wheel 16 to travel ahead more rapidly'than the wheel 17.. The factthat the wheel 16 is set farther from the platform 1'2 than the wheel 17, partially overcomes this tendency.

Secured. to the under side of the platform 12 on the left side of the center thereof, is a powerful coil spring 17a which is secured to a boltv 19, slidably mounted inthe frame. On the end of thelbolt 19 is a nut 20. By

means of the nut 2O and the bolt 19 the tension on the spring 17 may be varied as desired and 'the engine can thus beset to turn in a circle of any desired size or curvature. Secured to the axle 14 on the right sideof the machine is a powerful coil spring 21 which Ais connected ywith a. rod 22 which preferably extends to a point near the rear vof the machine. lrod 22 near the rear ofthe machine is a chain 23 designed to be wound upon a' drum Secured to the end of the 24 of "any suitable kind. Secured to the drum 2.4 is a crank handle 25. The drum 24 may be controlled if desired bya ratchet de' vice of any suitable construction. By means of the springs 17a and 21 and the parts connected therewith, the engine can be guided in any direction and can also be set to travel The wheel 16 will then be in the furrow and will tend to turn to the left out of the furrow but will be held therein by the depth of the furrow. V

Mounted at a suitable point preferably near the' rear of the engine frame, is an engine proper 26 which may be of any desired type. Extending forwardly from the engine is the engine shaft 27 .on vthe end of which is a beveled gear wheel 28. Extending transversely of the frame of the machine is rotatably mounted a counter shaft 29. Loosely mounted on the shaft 29 is a beveled gear Wheel 30 which is designed in one position ofits movement toy mesh with one side of the beveled` gear wheel 28. Loosely mounted on the shaft 29 is another beveled. gear wheel 31 designed in one position of its movement tomesh with the other side of the beveled gear wheel 28. Fixed on the beveled gear wheels 30 and 31 are clutch members 32 and 33. Fea-thered to the shaft 29 are clutch members 34 and 35 designed to coact respectively with the clutch members 32 and 33. The clutch member 34 may be moved upon the shaft 29 by means of the lever 36 which is fulcrumed on the frame at 37 and which has a handle 38 at a convenient point to be 'grasped by the engineer. Theclutch member' 35 may be f moved longitudinally on the shaft 29 by means of a lever 39 which is fulcrumed at 40 on the frame of the machine and has a handle 41 at a convenient point.

By 4means of the mechanism just described, the shaft 29 may be rotated in either direction. By throwing the clutch members 33 and 35 out of engagement and throwing the clutch members k32 and 34 into engagement, the shaft 29 may be operated in one direction and by throwing the clutch members 32 and 34 out of engagement and throwing the clutch members 33 and 35 into engagement, said shaft may be operated in the opposite direction. On the shaft 29 between the gears 30 and 3l is a slidably but non-'rotatably mounted gear 42. Slidably but nonrotatably mounted on the frame at a suitable point is a rear axle composed of two parts 43 and 44. rlhe rear axle is made in two parts as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that it may be lengthened or shortened as desired.- The parts 43 and 44 are provided with holes 45. The holes in the part 43 register with the holes in the part 44 in dierent positions of the'longitudinal movement of said parts. with relation to each other, and the said parts are fastened together by means of bolts 46 extended throughthe holes 45. On the outer ends of the. rear axle are spindles on which are mounted traction wheels 47 and 48. Fixed to the inside of each of the said traction wheels are sleeves 49 and fixed to said sleeves are sprocket wheels 50and 51.

For transmitting power from the sliding gear 42 to the sprocket wheels 50 and 51 and thereby moving the traction wheels-47 and 48, I have provided the following mechanism: Rotatably mounted in the frame preferably in front of the shaft 29, is a countershaft composed of two parts 52and 53. The inner ends of the parts and 53 are adjacent to each `other and on said ends is loosely mounted a wheel 54 which forms part of a double friction clutch which will now be more fully described. On each side of the wheel 54 is an annular groove Fixed to the shaft members 52 and 53 adjacent to the hub of the wheel 54, on each side thereof, are blocks 56 from which extend opposite radially disposed arms 57. Pivoted to the outer ends of the arms'57 are the endsof curved shoesor. clutch members 58. Slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft members 52 and 53 vadjacent to the blocks 56 are blocks 59 to which are pivoted loppositely disposed arms 60. The outer ends of the arms 60 are pivoted to the ends of the shoes or clutch members 58 opposite the ends thereof to which the arms 57 are secured. It will thus be seen that on each side of the wheel 54, are two clutch u The outer surface of the wheel 54 is provided with teeth 61. In one position of its sliding movement on the shaft 29, the sliding gear 42 is in mesh with the teeth 61 on the wheel 54. For sliding the gear 42 on the shaft 29, l provide the following means:

Formed on the gear 42 is a hub 62, in which is an annular groove. Loosely mounted in the annular groove in the hub 62 are the forked ends 63 of a rod 64 which extends at right angles from the shaft 29 preferably downwardly. Connected with the rod 64 and extending preferably rearwardly in the machine is a rod 65 which is, rotatably mounted in the frame and forms a rock bar for sliding the gear 42 longitudinally on the shaft 29. At therear end of the rod 65 is formed a handle 66. It will thusbe seen that 'the gear 42 may be thrown into or out of mesh with the teeth 61 as desired, by operating the rock bar 65. It has already been shown that the gear 42 may be rotated in either direction by means of the mechanism forcontrolling the beveled gears 3l and 30.

By moving the clutch members 58 on one side or the other of the wheel 54, eitherof the shaft members 52 or 53 may be rotated.

F or transmitting .power from the shaft members 52 and 53 to the sprockets 5() and 51, I mount on the said shaft members 52 and 53, sprockets 66 and 67 by means `of eollars 68 and 69, and set screws 70.' On the sprockets 67 and 51, is a sprocket chain 71 and on the sprockets 66 andOfis asprocket chain 72. I A l v For controlling the clutch members 58 and for automatically transmitting power to the wheel 47 or the wheel '48, depending on which way the platform is rotated, I

provide the following means: Centrally pivoted to the frame of a machine below the platform 12, is a bellv crank lever 75 shown in` the do-tted lines in Fig. 1. Pivotedto one end of the bell crank lever 75 is a bar 76. The other end of the bar 76 is pivoted `to the platform 12 on one side of the middle thereof. Centrally pivoted to the other end of the bell crank lever 75 is a transverse -bar 77, the ends of which are provided with longitudinal slots 78 and 7 9. Pivotally and slidably mounted in the slots 78 and 79 are the forwardends of levers 80 and 8l. The levers 80 and 81 extend rearwardly past the shaft members 52 and 53 upon which said levers are loosely mounted, and their-.rearV ends are pivoted to the frame. The levers 8O and 81 are designed to rest adjacent to and in contact with the outer sides of the blocks 59. On the shaft members 52 and 53, voutside the levers 8O and 81, are slidably mounted collars 82 which may be fixed on the respective shaft members by means 4of set screws 83. Between the collars 82 and the levers 80 and 81, are extensible coil springs 84. The' springs 84 are designed to exert yielding pressure to move the blocks 59 toward the wheel 54 to thereby set the friction. clutches hereinbefore described. The slots in the ends of the bar 77 and the parts ljust described, are so constructed and arranged that when the platform 12 is ro- .tated in one direction, the lever17 5 will be moved and the inner end of one of the slots in the bar 77 will engage one of the levers 80 or 81 moving the same away'from the wheel 54. At the same time, the spring 84 en the opposite side of the wheel 54 will be permitted to move the block 49 toward the wheel 54 and thereby cause the clutch members 58 on one side of said wheel 54 to engage the wheel. One of the shaft members 52 and 53l .will then be rotated and will transmit power to one ofthe wheels47 lor 48.` It will thusbe seen .that either of the wheels 48 or 47 may be driven depending on the direction of the turn made -by the front wheel with my engine.

In the practical operation, the position of spring 17a 'of the axle 14, with. vreference to the longitudinal axis of the engine, may be fixed as desired, by regulating the tension on the 'by means of the nut 20 and by regulating the tension on the spring 21 by means of the rod 22, the chain 23, and the handle 25. The engine may be set to travel on any desired course. The action of the plow '15 may be regulated as desired by mechanism not here shown. When the `engin-e is traveling straight ahead as shown in Fig. 1, the clutch members on both sides of the wheel 54 engage said wheel and both of the wheels 47 and 48 are driven. When the front wheels are turned in either direction, for instance, to the left, the bar77 is moved to th-e left, and the bar releases the clutch members on the left side of the wheel 54, thereby automatically causing the engine to ,be driven from the wheel 48. If the front wheels should turn to the right, the mechanism hereinbefore described, will automatically cause the engine to be driven by the wheel 47. The engine can be thrown into or out of gear by sliding the gear 42 into or out of mesh with the teeth on the wheel 54. The engine can be driven forwardly or rearwardly by moving the respective clutch members 34 and 35 by means of the-levers hereinbefore described.` AIt will be seen that my improved engine could be used with cultivator `shovels'instead of a plow, if desired. On account of the construction ofthe axle members 43 and 44, and the manner in which they are mounted on the frame, the distance between the wheels 47 'and 48 may be varied so that the y wheels may be caused to travel between rows of gra-in or the like. The manner in which the sprockets v 66 and 67 are mounted on the shaft members 52 and 53, enables me to move said sprockets longitudinally on said shaft members, and to keep the sprockets on the axle members 43 and 44 in line with the sprockets on the shaft members 52 and 53. Y

The advantages of my engine may be seen from the foregoing description. By means vof the constructionof the platform 12, and

the manner of mounting the axle 14 thereon, a furrow may be plowed in a circle and the engine then set to `follow that furrow. Little or no attention is required' from the operator to keep the engine in its course. By means of the arrangement of the shaft members 52 and 53, the wheel 54 andthe clutch members coacting therewith, together with the 'mechanism for guiding said clutchv members, the power from the engine is automatically connected with the large tracu tion wheel, .which travels on the outside of a curve invmaking a turn. My engine may be'thrown out of gear or reversed by a very simple mechanism. The length of the rear axle may be varied vas desired for the purpose of varying the distance between 'theV I ment of said platform selectively causes one of the wheels on said rear axle to be driven from saidprimary source of power depending on the direct-ion in which said platform is rotated, said means comprising a divided shaft, the portions of which are operatively connected with the rear wheels, a gear loosely mounted oncthe adjacent of, means for driving said gear from said primary source of power, means operated bylsaid rot-ary platform for moving said gealfin or out of gear .with one portion of said shaft, means operated by'v said rotary platform forplacingsaid' gear in orout of gear ywith the other portion of said shaft, said parts being so arranged that when the front axle is at rightangles with the longitudinal axis of the frame both. portionsof said shaft are in is turned the gear is in gear with one portion of the shaft only.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame, a rotary platform mounted near the front end thereof, a front axle fixed off center to the edge of said platform, wheels on said axle, a two part rear-axle slidably mounted'on said frame, the parts of said rear axle b eing capable of longitudinal ad- `justment with relation to each other, wheels on said rear'axle, a primary source of power mounted on said frame, .two shaft members rotatably mounted on.said frame in alineends theregear, whilewhen said axle ment with each other, means for transmitting power from said primary source of power to either of said shaft members, and

vmeans for transmitting power from the respectivey shaft members .to the respective wheels on' said rear axle, and meanswhereby-the rotation of. said platform controls the transmission from said primary' source of powerto said shaft members.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame, a rotary platform mounted. near the fronty end thereof, a front axle fixed off center to the edge of said platform, wheels on said axle, a two part rear axle slidably mounted on said frame, the parts of said rear axle being capable of'longitudi'nal adjustment withrelation to each other, wheels on said rear axle, a primary source of power mounted on said frame, two shaft members rotatably mounted on said frame in alinement-with each other, means for transmitting power from said primary source of power to either of said shaft members, and means for transmitting power from the respective shaft members to the respective wheels on said rear axle, said last named means comprising sprocket wheels fixed to the wheels on said rear axle, sprocket wheels slidably mountedV on said respective shaft members, means forlixing said last named sprocket wheels en said shaft members in any position of their longitudinal movement thereon, sprocket chains on the respective sprocket wheels on the rear wheels of the engine, and on the respective sprocket wheels on said shaft members, andmeans whereby the. movement of said platform controls the transmission of power to said shaft members. Y

Des Moines, Iowa, March 1st, 1912.

, HANS SCHLICHT. Witnesses:

C. D. BolLEn, c

S. MosHER. 

